Select from the list below for more information

Glaucoma Information

Glaucoma remains a leading cause of preventable blindness. It affects more than 2.3 million
Americans age 40 and older. Another 2 million do not know they have the disease. Glaucoma can
quietly damage the eye and optic nerve even before a person notices vision problems. Such
damage cannot be reversed once it occurs. However, when we catch glaucoma early and closely
monitor and treat people, we can significantly slow its progression and minimize vision loss.
Dr. Paul McManus and Dr. Shalin Shah are board certified and specialize in the treatment of glaucoma.
Dr. McManus, Dr.Shah and our entire team of doctors and staff are dedicated to providing the latest in treatment and care for our glaucoma patients. Treatment can involve medication, lasers such as SLT (selective laser trabeculoplasty) and glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy). Eye drops with medication aimed at lowering intra ocular pressure (IOP) are usually tried first to control glaucoma.

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin in
amounts sufficient to control blood sugar levels. People with any type of diabetes can
develop hyperglycemia, which is an excess of blood sugar, or serum glucose. Although
glucose is a vital source of energy for the body’s cells, a chronic elevation of serum
glucose causes damage throughout the body, including the small blood vessels in the
eyes. As a result, if you have diabetes your run the risk of developing diabetic
retinopathy, in which damage occurs to the delicate blood vessels inside the retina
at the back of the eye. You are also at increased risk for developing cataracts or
glaucoma. If you have diabetes, it is important to have an annual exam by an ophthalmologist.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is a leading cause of severe vision loss in people ages 65 and over. Knowing your
risk factors, being aware of your family history and keeping regular appointments with
your ophthalmologist can help reduce your risks for vision loss from macular degeneration.
In its most severe form, known as wet AMD, the disease can lead to permanent loss of central
vision, which is essential for driving, reading and recognizing faces.

Top Five Risk Factors for AMD

Being over the age of 60

Having a family history of AMD

Cigarette smoking

Obesity

Hypertension

If you have any two of these risk factors, you should schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist for a complete evaluation. Earlier detection of wet AMD gives a better chance of successful treatment.

Adapted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart Campaign, www.geteyesmart.org

Cornea Information

Many conditions can affect the cornea. Trauma or injury to the cornea can cause scarring,
as can infections (especially herpes keratitis), allergies, and dry eyes. Keratoconus causes
a steep curving of the cornea.

The cornea is the normally clear, front window of the eye that covers the colored iris
and round, dark pupil. Light is focused while passing through the cornea allowing us to see.
In a healthy eye, the cornea bends or refracts light rays so they focus precisely on the retina in the back of the eye.

All the doctors at Eye Physicians & Surgeons provide excellent care and treatment for
common corneal conditions. Dr. Laura Bealer, our board certified
cornea specialist, specializes in treating corneal dystrophies, keratoconus, pterygium, dry eye
syndrome and other corneal conditions. When vision cannot be corrected satisfactorily, or painful
swelling cannot be relieved by medication or special contact lenses, a corneal transplant may be
recommended. Dr. Bealer has the experience and training in the latest transplant
technique, Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty known as DSEK as well as traditional
transplant techniques such as penetrating keratoplasty (PK).